as i ran forward, i eliminated the threat and i grabbed sergeant brenner and brought him back to our line, as everyone else continued to fight. it's difficult for me to sit here alone because there are so many great people that are the reason why i'm here. i didn't look out for myself. they looked out for me. and two great men lost their lives that night. >> gretchen: what was it like for you to know that you had been bestowed this amazing honor that no living person has achieved since the vietnam war? >> it kind of hurt me at first. i read the stories about medal of honor recipients and they're heros, they're men that history books have been written about. two of my buddies gave everything for this country, and yet people want to pat me on the back and congratulate me. it was a very difficult step to take. this is a heavy responsibility to represent the best, the strongest, the brightest, the most courageous. and they have to look at my face. >> steve: you are a hero. you didn't want to write this book, you said. why? >> i put in a whole bunch of personal information, making it a ve